Astellas Pharma US Inc., of Northbrook, Ill., part of Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, named Shontelle Dodson senior vice president and head of medical affairs Americas. She was recently vice president of medical excellence in Astellas' global medical affairs organization. Read More
Celltrion Healthcare Inc., of Incheon, South Korea, said detailed results from NOR-SWITCH, a randomized, double-blind, switching study of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha biosimilar infliximab (Remicade, Janssen Biotech Inc.) were published in The Lancet. Sponsored by the Norwegian government, the study explored the impact of switching adult patients who were stable on reference infliximab to Celltrion's biosimilar CT-P13 (Remsima/Inflectra). The results demonstrate that CT-P13 is not inferior to continued treatment with the reference product and that patients can be safely switched. Read More
TOKYO – Astellas Pharma Inc. is streamlining its product lineup by selling off rights to 16 of its long-listed products to LTL Pharma Co. Ltd. in a deal worth ¥20.1 billion (US$177 million), a move that will enable Astellas to focus on newer and more profitable drugs. Read More
HONG KONG – In a move to further improve regulations in the pharmaceutical sector, the CFDA recently established the China-Denmark Food and Drug Regulatory Cooperation Centre. Read More
LONDON – In a Franco-Sino tie-up Pharnext SA and Tasly Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. signed a three-part agreement, which will see the Chinese pharma invest up to $44 million in a combination of equity, a joint venture, and the clinical development of Pharnext's lead program, PXT-3003, in China. Read More
The first therapeutic monoclonal antibody (MAb) that selectively targets activated intracellular cytosolic Ras mutant proteins, which are inaccessible to current antibodies, has been developed and assessed preclinically in a new South Korean study. Read More
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Aslan Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based company focused on the development of treatments for prevalent tumor types in Asia, is conducting a competitive auction and public offer of common shares for its initial listing on the Taipei Exchange (TPEx). Read More
SHANGHAI – Innovative Cellular Therapeutics Co. Ltd. (ICT), of Shanghai, a leader among China's pack of emerging CAR T oncology companies, has struck a partnership deal with Vericel Corp., the first biotech to receive FDA approval for a tissue-engineered autologous cell scaffold. Read More
